THE STATE FORESTS ACT, 1874,

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1934, 17 October 1874, Page 3

THE STATE FORESTS ACT, 1874,

f The following are the details of the State Forests Act, which we have not previously explained at length : — To provide for necessary expenses contingent on the establishment and maintenance of the State Forests, the Act appropriates an annual Bum of LIO.OOO, for 30 years, to be paid out of the Consolidated Fund into a " special fund " to be called the ' l State Forests Account." The first payment of L 2500 is to be made on the first day of January, 1875, and an equal amount thenceforth in April, July, October, and January in each year to and including the Ist October, 1904. In addition, all rents, licenses, fees, or o her revenues derived from any lands that may be set apart for the purpose are to be paid to the same account. Arrangements may be made with the holder of a pastoral lease or licensee for the surrender or cancellation thereof, and pending these arrangements the lands will continue tn be held under such lease or license until its legal expiration ; but the rental and assessment fees will form a portion of the "special fund," In the event of there being " a surplus to the credit of the account, which will not be required for thirteen months thereafter, it may be invested, "as directed by the Governor in j Council, for such period aa in his opinion the money may not be required." It is scarcely necessary to explain that by the phrase " Governor in Council," is meant the Executive Government of the Colony. The administration of this fund, and the management of the State Forests to be hereafter created, is to be vested in a' responsible minister of the Government, with the title of Commissioner of State Forests. Under him, and subject to his control, there will be a Conservator of State Forests and two Assistant Conservators. These officers are to be appointed and to be removable by the Governor, who is empowered to enter into engagements with them for definite terms, at salaries to be fixed by him ; with the Conservator for four years, and with the Assistant Conservators for three years. After the expiration of these periods their salaries are to be subject to the annual appropriation of the General Assembly. There is no limit named for the salary of the chief officer, but, in the case of his assistants, maximum salaries of £400 are prescribed. At fijst sight this arrangement appears to be somewhat objectionable, as it assumes the appearance of taking the powers of the purse away from Parliament. But, on due consideration, we incline to the opinion that it is a wise and prudent provision. Nothing would be more likely to damage a eoheme, to which so much hostility has already been displayed, than the annoyance entailed by an annual debate, on the Conservators' salaries at an early stage of the undertaking. Four years is quite little enough time to enable the new department to show what it can accomplish ; and any shorter period would probably impair its efficiency, by rendering its officers subject ti unfair attacks, based an the imperfect data derivable from incomplete labors. Men, like boys, have a passion for unripe fruit ; and it is well to keep it out of their reach until it is fit for use. The funds of the State Forest account may be expended "in and about the management of State Forests, including planting, the construction of road 3 and bridges within or for the purpose of access to such forests, the payment of moneys in the nature of rents for lands acquired for State Forests, the purchase of lands for State Forests, the education in the science of forestry of persons employed or to be employed in the management of such forests, the establishment of schools and colleges for teaching forestry, the establishment of nurseries for trees, and for generally giving effect to the intentions of the Act to create, improve, and extend State Forests." By-laws are to be made by the Governor in Council for regulating the duties of all officers employed under the Act I for granting leases and licenses, regulating the seasons at, and the mode in which, timber may be felled, and generally for facilitating the carrying into execution the objects oj the Act, The same authority may impose penalties " not exceeding LSO for any one offence." And it is further provided that any officer appointed under the Act may apprehend, without a warrant, any unauthorised person found cutting or removing timber or bark from any lands forming part of the State Forests. Such in brief are the provisions of the Act. It is a measure which is capable of being rendered either a curse ar a blessing to the country by the way in which its provisions are carried into effect. The responsibility which is thereby entailed on those whose duty it becomes to deal with it is great indeed, The future will decide whether they are competent to undertake the duties which necessarily devolve upou them, and for their proper performance vi which they will bfi held accountable not only by the people of to-day but also by generations yet. unborn.